Peace and Social Justice Day 2011April 29th

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We will scale this back due to so many other demands upon our time. Our concept for "telling our stories" will be moved to Grandparents' Day [October 21st Grandparents' Day 2011], and we will focus on the various natural disasters which have affected our world recently:

• earthquake in Haiti
• earthquake in China
• earthquake in New Zealand--Christchuch
• earthquake/tsunami in Japan--Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture

some ideas:

• prayer flags for the breezeway (should be complete and installed for forensics event Forensics Event 2011)
• science fair of various geological/earth science/natural disasters situations
  • Sue: volcano
• survival boxes packed for various situations
  • hurricanes! this would add a sense of "it could happen to me and my family" as we get a lot of hurricanes here!
  • use the actual items or pictures for younger children... Might we be able to create a computer "game" for this????
  • if I had to pack a suitcase to evacuate for a disaster, what would I out in it? (limit the size/weight of the suitcase!)
• how can we help?
  • Architecture for Humanity in Haiti (and Japan) Architecture for Humanity
  • DoSomething.org has launched a project called Paper Cranes for Japan which is based on a Japanese legend that anyone who folds 1.000 cranes will be granted a wish. We would not send these to Japan; instead, we would fold them, string them, photograph the strings, and upload the photos as a show of support for the Japanese. The strings of cranes could then be kept at VBFS (Library? Office?) as a reminder of how things can change in an instant. Teacher Barb has origami paper....
  • eQuilteris partnering with Mission of Love to send a container of disaster relief supplies, and donated quilts, to the victims of this disaster in Japan. It is going to take a little time to work out the details, but knowing the relief effort must be sustained past the first few weeks and months, I trust that we can all work together to send something meaningful to those who have lost so much. We will ask you to either ship the donated quilts directly to Mission of Love in Youngstown Ohio. Be sure to put your name, address, and a message of Hope on a label, on the backside of the quilt. Even if you don't hear back from the recipient, they will surely read your message of caring. Use a permanent waterproof pen like a Pigma or Sharpie, write on a light colored fabric, use a double-sided fusible and hand-tack for security. I'd like to suggest that you make small personal-sized quilts for a child or small adult. That could be from 46" x 60" for a child's cot quilt, to 60" x 68" for a lap quilt, or 65" x 85" for a small twin size. Consider backing it with flannel if you have it on hand, for warmth. Don't be afraid to piece together the batting from your batting scraps (butt the ends together and join with a zigzag stitch) or even piece together the backing.
    Hearts for New Zealand: We are asking for Hearts for the thousands of Christchurch earthquake victims. Not the usual hearts, but "Hanging Hearts". Two pieces of fabric, heartshaped, sewn together, lightly stuffed, and with a hanging loop of ribbon. These can be any size, any fabric, any style! I have made some by sandwiching batting and fabric and cutting around the outside with pinking shears.
    We will be arranging a venue where they can all be hung and people can come and take whichever one they like. If you would like to take part could you please send yours hearts to: Dorothy Smith, PO Box 357, Stratford 4352, New Zealand OR Evie Harris, 523 Main North Road, Bay View, Napier 4104, New Zealand.